Swivel shear

ABSTRACT

A shear implement having a movement based on either of two forms of compound levers, the intermediate pivotal connections of which are arranged to swivel by one or two ball joints. The ball joint is adapted for selective pivotal movement in azimuth, that is, laterally to the plane of the shear action and to allow for free pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. The swivel effect of the ball-joint connection connection provides for shearing action even with the blades swiveled as much as substantially 90* from the pivoting plane of the blades. A manually operated form includes two ball joints and a detent for holding the device to a plurality of angular positions. An electric-motor-operated form includes one ball joint and an adjustable swivel to allow for selected positions at any desired angle.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Rudolph J. Wertepny, Sr.

804 Linden Ave, Elizabeth, NJ. 07202 [Zl] App]. No. 783,498 [22] Filed Dec. 13,1968 [45] Patented Aug. 3, 197] [$4] SWIVEL SHEAR 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Fig.

[52] US. Cl 30/252, 30/254 [5 l] Int. Cl 82Gb 13/26 [50] Field oiSarch 30/177, l9l, 193, 2l 1, 247, 248, 252, 254

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 873,333 l2/l907 Sweet 30/248 2,020,242 ll/l935 Geddes... 30/l93 X 2,078,585 4/1937 Rauh 30/254 2,264,840 12/1941 lsaac 3,365,963 1/1968 Happe Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Attorney-March, Le Fever, Wyatt & Lazar ABSTRACT: A shear implement having a movement based on either of two forms of compound levers, the intermediate pivotal connections of which are arranged to swivel by one or two ball joints. The ball joint is adapted for selective pivotal movement in azimuth, that is, laterally to the plane of the shear action and to allow for free pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. The swivel efi'ect of the ball-joint connection connection provides for shearing action even with the blades swiveled as much as substantially 90 from the pivoting plane of the blades. A manually operated form includes two ball joints and a detent for holding the device to a plurality of an-.

SWIVEL SHEAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to shears, and more particularly, shears adapted for selective swiveling about the pivoting plane of the blades.

2. Description of the Prior Art Shear implements are known having compound levers for actuating movement of the shearing blades. Such shears are limited in operation to shearing in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of the compound levers.

For certain uses of shears it is desirable, if not essential, to be able to adjust the relative angular position of the shearing blades with respect to the handles or actuating means. Such conditions arise, for example, when the shearing of material is needed in construction involving walls, ceilings, and the like, where access is restricted to but one position of the shears. Other situations arise wherein a shear is needed for cutting material in a limited accessible area requiring a nonlinear or turning action which may be impossible because of the size of the shearing tool.

Although attempts heretofore have been made to provide a shearing tool adjustable for the shearing blades relative to the handles, none have proved satisfactory.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a shearing implement arranged to allow for an adjustment of the shearing blades relative to the actuating means or handle to any selected angular position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention I provide a shear implement having a compound lever movement intermediate the connection of the actuating means or handles and the cutting blades. The compound link is provided with at least one ball joint to allow for swivel action of the blades relative to the handles, which serve as the means to actuate the blades.

In the embodiment of the invention arranged for a manually operated shearing implement, a pivotal connection is provided for the cutting blades in the usual fashion, and a pivot is provided for cooperative action of the handles. Each handle portion is provided with an extension carrying a ball, and each ball is arranged for seating in a socket formed on the end of an extension of each of the cutting blades. Means are provided for selectively swiveling a pair of ball joints within the sockets to any one of a plurality of selected positions. A detent is provided for fixing a selected position against any swivel motion during the operation of the shear.

In another form of the invention adapted for operation actuated by an electric motor, a single ball extends from an eccentric rotary output of the motor. The ball is nested or seated within a slotted cavity formed on an extension of either blade, although preferably the cutting blade. The other blade, preferably the anvil blade, is connected to the housing of the motor and is provided with a locking swivel adjustment to lock the anvil blade in any selected position. The two blades are pivoted for shearing action in the usual manner. The ball seated in the slotted cavity is free to rotate within the cavity in any of the selected angular positions. The motor driving the eccentric ball produces reciprocation of the cutting blade relative to the stationary anvil blade to effect the cutting action, the ball moving freely laterally within the slot and alternately contacting the upper and lower wall of the slot for vertical reciprocation of the blade.

A more detailed description of several embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top view of one form of a manually operated shearing implement according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the implement shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary portion of the ball-joint connections of the implement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, partly in section;

FIG. 3a is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the ball-joint detent during the adjustment or release phase;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on viewing line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a top fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 showing the several angular positions the blade may assume relative to the handle;

FIG. 5a is a sectional view taken along viewing line 5a-5a of FIG. 5, showing the socket with the detent slots;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a modification of the shearing implement illustrating a different form ofdetent;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the hood portion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is another modification of a manual shearing implement;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view ofa still further modification of a shearing implement adapted for operation by an electric mo- 10f.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrative of the general principles of the invention as embodied in a manually operated shear, there is shown a shear 10 comprising a first handle 12 and a second handle 14 arranged for pivotal movement about pin 16, the portion 13 of handle 12 which functions as a lever arm of the compound movement, as will be explained. The pivot or pin 16 may be provided with a torsion spring, not shown, to resiliently urge apart the handles 12 and 14 upon release of pressure-closing forces. Attached to the portion 13 of handle 12 is a sphere or ball 18 including a rib 19 extending from a surface portion of the sphere to the arm 13. Another ball 20 is connected to the handle 14.

Cutting blade 22 having a cutting edge 22a is provided with a lever arm 23 extending generally normal to the cutting edge 22a. The arm 23 is extended to form a semispherical socket within the hooded portion 24. A slidable cap 26 is provided with a knurled surface 28 for manual movement of the cap along the slot 27 through which pin 27a is seated. A spring 30 is arranged within the cap 26 for urging the cap in a closed position. (See FIG. 3). FIG. 3a illustrates the position of the cap 26 when it has been moved away from the closed position allowing for the ball 18 to be oriented within the socket 24.

The slotted socket portion 24 is provided with a plurality of slots 24a, 24b, 240, as shown in FIG. 50, any one of which is adapted to seat over or bridge the rib 19.

The anvil blade 32 having a cutting edge 32a is provided with a lever arm 36 extending generally normal to the cutting edge 3211. A pivotal pin connection 34 joins the anvil blade 32 to the cutting blade 22 for pivoting action of the two blades relative to each other.

The anvil blade 32 includes an extension provided with a semispherical cavity serving as a socket 38 to receive ball 20. A screw-tightened pivot hood 40 is provided to substantially enclose the ball 20 to keep it in place with substantially free rotational movement therein. The balls 18 and 20, it is to be noted, can be easily removed from the sockets thereby separating the handle portion of the implement from the blades.

The cutting blades 32 and 22 are preferably of the scroll type wherein the planes of the blades are at an acute angle relative to the plane perpendicular to the axis of pivot about the pivot 34. See FIG. 4 wherein the blades 32 and 22 are shown at an acute angle relative to the center line 29 passing between the inner faces at pivot 34. Such form of blades are well known to effect a sharp clean cut of material and as a means for guiding the cut material away from the cutting faces of the shear blades as well as the handle portion thereof.

The rear or noncutting face of each of the blades is preferably provided with a longitudinal groove, indicated as portions 33 and 21 as seen in FIG. 4. The blades 22 and 32 are shaped and pivotally mounted (at pivot 34) relative to each other to effect the shearing action well known in the art wherein the cutting edges 32a and 22a are in running contact defined by the well-known helical relief or clearance. Thus as the blades 32 and 22 are opened and closed about the pivot M, the cutting edges 332a and 22a come into momentary contact in a progressive manner as one blade passes or crosses the other by sliding. Preferably the adjustment of one blade to the other is such as to effect ideal or optimum cutting by the running angle included between the two blades being between 23 and 28 as known in the art. This angle (theta) is shown in H6. 2.

In operation, the handles l2 and id are manipulated to open and close relative to each other whereby the resulting lever action is carried through the balls 2% and ill to the cutting and anvil blades 22 and 32 by the pivoting action of the balls within the sockets, and the cooperative pivoting action about pivot lid.

in order to change the angular position of the blades relative to the handles, the cap 2b is moved leftwardly, as shown in HQ. 3a, to allow for free movement of the ball lb and the rib 19 under the slotted portions 2dac. The ball lb and rib i9 are oriented to a position under a selected slot and the cap 26 is released to seat thereby the rib within the selected slot. Fit]. illustrates the various positions that the blade may be adjusted relative to the handle, in each position the shearing is effected by manipulation of the handles.

Referring now to lFllG. b, there is shown a modification of the manually operated shear implement of the invention, noting that similar or identical parts of those previously described have the same reference numeral followed by a letter. This form of the invention includes handles i241 and Ma about a pivot the Extending from the upper handle is a ball the connected to the handle as by a rod 4%, and in a similar fashion a ball Ella extends from the lower handle llda as by means of a rod 52. The cutting blade lever 23a extends into an integrally formed socket 5d provided with a recess for receiving the ball lha. A retaining cap W is mounted suitably on the lever arm 23a for locking in place or eplacement by screw $6, for example. The retaining cap dill supports the ball the during the connection of the blade to the handle.

A similar arrangement is provided for the connection of the anvil blade to the lower handle Me by means of the ball Ztla, a retaining cap till and a screw as.

Means are provided for indexing the blades to a selected swivel position by means ofa hood lid pivoted for convenience at pivot llha. A thumb tab on is provided for pivoting the hood about the pivot litia. A spring as suitable connected between the handle ll2n and the hood lid is provided for urging the hood in a counterclockwise position, that is, into the closed position, as shown. A pin W11 extending from the socket portion 5d serves as the indexing reference. A plurality of slotted holes 72,74, re, 7b and hll are cut into the upper wall of the hood dd and are arranged to receive freely pin 7h. With the hood removed from the seated position, the pin is free to pass under the inside wall of the hood to allow the user to adjust the relative angular position of the blades to the handles. When the desired position is made by swivel of the freely pivoted parts the hood is released to engage the pin ltl in the slot at that position. The operation of the shearing implement is similar to that previously described.

Referring now to lFlG. hi, there is shown another modification of the invention wherein the compound movement is modified by arranfing the pivot of the handles to be between the ball joints and the pivot of the blades, noting that reference numerals on the drawing refer to similar parts of the previous embodiments with the reference letter b added thereto.

The blades 2% and 32b are of the straight type rather than the scroll type and serve to provide shears of the type used preferably with straight blades. An indexing device is provided and may be either of the form used for the embodiment described in lFlGfi. 2 through 5, or that for the embodiment illustrated in MG. 6.

Referring now to FlC'v. it, there is shown a modification of the invention wherein an electric motor in place of handles is used as the actuating means. The electric motor is shown with a rotary shaft 82 connected to a disc lid for providing an eccentric connection of the ball llhc attached thereto by means of a bolt db, which may be integrally formed therewith. The housing, preferably in the form of a baseplate 8b extending from or attached thereto, serves as a connection to the anvil blade 32a. A screw Elli with a knurled head and a Belleville washer 92, or any suitable locking washer, is attached to the extension portion 9d of the blade 32c with a tapped hole, for example. The anvil blade 320 is pivotally connected to the cutting blade 220 by a pivot connection 3dr. The upper extension of the cutting blade 220 is provided with a housing 96 with a U-shaped slotted or cavity recess 98 suitably dimensioned to allow for free-sliding motion of the ball 1dr therein. The blades 32c and 22c may be adjusted to any desired angle relative to the electric motor by loosening the bolt and merely positioning the blades and thereafter tightening the bolt hill.

in operation the electric motor rotates the eccentrically mounted ball lldc whereby the cutting blade 220 is reciprocated in a rapid manner relative to the fixed blade 32c.

It will be appreciated that as the eccentric action occurs the ball tile is moved both laterally, as well as vertically, with respect to the central horizontal axisof the motor. The lateral displacement is lost motion, in effect, within the slot 38 but the vertical component of the eccentric motions are imparted alternately to the upper and lower wall of the slot to effect the up-and-down or reciprocating motion.

it should be appreciated that the operation of the swivel shear of the invention is based on the principle of a compound-lever movement comprising four pivoting coacting levers or momentum arms defined, for example, by the linkages between the pivots 3d and to of FlG. 2, and the pivots defined by the balls lb and Zll and their sockets. The plane defined by or which includes the compound levers when the blades are in the normal nonangled orientation is flat. However, when shearing blades are oriented at an angle relative to the handles, a dihedral angle is formed at the intersection defined by the line connecting the central axis of the balls lb and Eli. During the operation of the shear implement of the invention, the dihedral angle is shifting slightly at each reciprocation of the handles as the pivots at ill and 2t) reciprocate to and away from each other. lt is believed that if there were no shifting of the dihedral angle the compound-lever mechanism would bind.

it is believed, therefore, that there should be a certain amount of mechanical play left into the system as at the balls lb and 241! so that this binding effect is obviated. It will be appreciated that this binding effect would occur only when the ball-and-socket joints are indexed to constrained movement in a given or desired angular position. This effect can not occur in the embodiments having a ball actuating the anvil blade by means of a channeled cavity or slot wherein there is free lateral movement during the operation thereof as, for example, illustrated and described in lFlG. 9.

The shear implement may be made of any suitable material known in the art. Preferably, the blades should be made of a high carbon vanadium steel and the ball and sockets should be made of high-speed steel. The moving parts, such as the various pivot members, should be at least made of hardened steel. The handles for the manually operated shear implements may be formed of aluminum or sheet steel as well as any of the more recently developed plastics suitable for such purposes.

The size and dimensions of the shear implement shall be selected to accomplish the objective of cutting the material desired. it will be appreciated by those in the art that the shear of the invention may be used to cut material within a wide range of classes including soft cloths, silks and the like, tough plastics of phenol type including formaldehyde resins sold under the Trade Mark Formica, and sheet metals including that made of steel. l have found that plastics which are quite brittle can be cut or sheared sharply and cleanly with virtually no chipping or other effects that heretofore resulted from attempts to cut brittle plastics.

The compound-lever movement of the invention can be adopted for various purposes by changing the proportional length of each arm. For example, the stroke of the upper handle could have a relatively larger displacement than that of the lower handle to effect the shear action than as for example is useful in the carpeting trade.

lt will be seen that] have accomplished the objects of my invention. l have provided a shearing implement that can be swiveled to any position from the normal and still operated to shear material without binding of the moving parts. The portion of the implement comprising the blades may be quickly interchanged with other blade implements of difierent size and purposes providing thereby a tool of wide use and flexibility.

While the invention has been described in particular detail with respect to the several embodiments above illustrated, it should be appreciated to those skilled in the art that the inven tion may be used in other forms including modifications of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

What l claim is:

1. A shear implement including;

an anvil blade;

a cutting blade pivoted to the anvil blade;

actuating means for effecting relative reciprocal shearing motion of said blades about said pivot comprising;

a. a first handle pivotally connected by a first ball joint to said cutting blade;

b. a second handle pivotally connected by a second ball joint to said anvil blade;

c. a pivot joint connecting said handles and spaced from ball joints;

and means for selectively swiveling said blades relative to said actuating means which comprises:

detent means for selectively locking one of said ball joints in a desired swivel position and simultaneously allowing for reciprocal motion of said blades by relative movement of said handles.

2. An implement according to claim 1 wherein said blades are of the scroll type, the plane of the respective blades being disposed at an acute angle relative to the plane of motion of said blades.

3. An implement according to claim I wherein each said blade includes a longitudinal groove on the noncutting face thereof, said groove being formed to provide a tapered cutting edge having a width of dimension equal at least to one-half the thickness of the material to be sheared.

4. An implement according to claim I wherein said ball joints are located between the pivot of said blades and the pivot joint of the handles.

5. An implement according to claim 1 wherein the pivot joint of the handles is located between the pivot of said blades and the plane containing both of said ball joints.

6. An implement according to claim 1 including means for resiliently separating said handles.

7. An implement according to claim 1 wherein said first ball joint includes a ball connected to said first handle by a rib, and said cutting blade includes an extension portion having a socket for receiving said ball, and

wherein, further, said detent means includes a pivotal cover over said socket for retaining said ball in said socket, said cover including a plurality of slots each slot adapted to receive the rib on said handle,

whereby said ball and rib can be selectively positioned relative to said cover so that a selected slot on said cover will engage said rib and lock the ball joint in the selected position while the rib slides within the slot during manipulation of the handles. 8. An implement according to claim 1 wherein said first ball joint includes a ball attached to said first handle, and said cutting blade includes a socket for receiving said ball, and

wherein, further, said detent means includes a pivotal plate attached to said first handle, a pin extending from an extension portion of said cutting blade, a plurality of slots in said plate, each slot arranged to receive said pin in sliding relation and aligned in a difierent angular position relative to plane extending from both said handles,

whereby one of said slots may be positioned over a pin and the plate released over the pin to thereby constrain movement of the ball joint to the selected position during manipulation of the handles.

9. An implement according to claim 1 wherein said swiveling means includes means for releasably connecting said blades to said actuating means whereby said blades may be replaced with selected other blades.

10. A shear implement comprising:

an anvil blade;

a cutting blade pivoted to the anvil blade;

actuating means for effecting relative reciprocal shearing motion of said blades about said pivot; and

means for selectively swiveling said blades relative to said actuating means, said actuation means comprising:

an electric motor having a housing and a rotary shaft outa ball attached eccentrically to said shaft;

a slotted chamber in an extension portion of said cutting blade to receive said ball for free lateral movement therein and to effect reciprocating motion of said cutting blade in response to vertical movements of said ball; and

wherein said swiveling means comprises:

an adjustable swivel connecting said anvil blade to the motor housing. 

1. A shear implement including; an anvil blade; a cutting blade pivoted to the anvil blade; actuating means for effecting relative reciprocal shearing motion of said blades about said pivot comprising; a. a first handle pivotally connected by a first ball joint to said cutting blade; b. a second handle pivotally connected by a second ball joint to said anvil blade; c. a pivot joint connecting said handles and spaced from ball joints; and means for selectively swiveling said blades relative to said actuating means which comprises: detent means for selecTively locking one of said ball joints in a desired swivel position and simultaneously allowing for reciprocal motion of said blades by relative movement of said handles.
 2. An implement according to claim 1 wherein said blades are of the scroll type, the plane of the respective blades being disposed at an acute angle relative to the plane of motion of said blades.
 3. An implement according to claim 1 wherein each said blade includes a longitudinal groove on the noncutting face thereof, said groove being formed to provide a tapered cutting edge having a width of dimension equal at least to one-half the thickness of the material to be sheared.
 4. An implement according to claim 1 wherein said ball joints are located between the pivot of said blades and the pivot joint of the handles.
 5. An implement according to claim 1 wherein the pivot joint of the handles is located between the pivot of said blades and the plane containing both of said ball joints.
 6. An implement according to claim 1 including means for resiliently separating said handles.
 7. An implement according to claim 1 wherein said first ball joint includes a ball connected to said first handle by a rib, and said cutting blade includes an extension portion having a socket for receiving said ball, and wherein, further, said detent means includes a pivotal cover over said socket for retaining said ball in said socket, said cover including a plurality of slots each slot adapted to receive the rib on said handle, whereby said ball and rib can be selectively positioned relative to said cover so that a selected slot on said cover will engage said rib and lock the ball joint in the selected position while the rib slides within the slot during manipulation of the handles.
 8. An implement according to claim 1 wherein said first ball joint includes a ball attached to said first handle, and said cutting blade includes a socket for receiving said ball, and wherein, further, said detent means includes a pivotal plate attached to said first handle, a pin extending from an extension portion of said cutting blade, a plurality of slots in said plate, each slot arranged to receive said pin in sliding relation and aligned in a different angular position relative to plane extending from both said handles, whereby one of said slots may be positioned over a pin and the plate released over the pin to thereby constrain movement of the ball joint to the selected position during manipulation of the handles.
 9. An implement according to claim 1 wherein said swiveling means includes means for releasably connecting said blades to said actuating means whereby said blades may be replaced with selected other blades.
 10. A shear implement comprising: an anvil blade; a cutting blade pivoted to the anvil blade; actuating means for effecting relative reciprocal shearing motion of said blades about said pivot; and means for selectively swiveling said blades relative to said actuating means, said actuation means comprising: an electric motor having a housing and a rotary shaft output; a ball attached eccentrically to said shaft; a slotted chamber in an extension portion of said cutting blade to receive said ball for free lateral movement therein and to effect reciprocating motion of said cutting blade in response to vertical movements of said ball; and wherein said swiveling means comprises: an adjustable swivel connecting said anvil blade to the motor housing. 